Comments on: Cam Ward wins goalie duel with Niklas Backstrom as Hurricanes beat Wild 2-1http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2010/10/08/cam-ward-wins-goalie-duel-with-niklas-backstrom-as-hurricanes-beat-wild-2-1/
ProHockeyTalk on NBCSports.comSun, 02 Aug 2015 20:43:11 +0000hourly1http://wordpress.com/By: Jason Khttp://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2010/10/08/cam-ward-wins-goalie-duel-with-niklas-backstrom-as-hurricanes-beat-wild-2-1/comment-page-1/#comment-6855
Fri, 08 Oct 2010 17:36:17 +0000http://localhost/wp/3.0/?p=15707#comment-6855Good tidbit on Skinner, he was very impressive in the premier games. He made a lot of hustle plays and drew a couple penalties. I don’t know how much more he can learn in the minors, maybe he can work on his face-offs? But I also don’t think there is anybody in Charlotte that is an upgrade over him. Zach Boychuck is soft, and Riley Nash and Jared Staal aren’t ready to contribute above the 4th line on a nightly basis, meanwhile Skinner seems to appear out of nowhere near the net with the puck, and despite only being listed at 5’10, he isn’t afraid to stick his nose in there and try and make a play, something that Paul Maurice is always wanting his players to do.
The only concern I would have if I were Jim Rutherford would be his minutes. He needs to be playing 10 minutes a night minimum (he had about 16 today I think) in order to develop properly. If he is going to end up stuck on the fourth line with Kostopolous and Dalpe/O’Sullivan and only playing 4-6 minutes a night it would probably be better for him to go back to Kitchener where you know he’s going to see plenty of ice time.
The kid is fun to watch, he’s raw but gutsy, it’ll be interesting to see if JR and Paul Maurice decide to keep him around.
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